Data Types

• Scripting Languages as Loosely Typed
• Why Data Types Are Important
• The Variant: VBScript's Only Data Type
• Arrays as Complex Data Types

Variables and Procedures

• Option Explicit
• Naming Variables
• Procedures and Functions
• Variable Scope, Declaration, and Lifetime
• Design Strategies for Scripts and Procedures
• ByRef and ByVal
• Literals and Named Constants

Control of Flow

• Branching Constructs
• Loop Constructs

Error Handling and Debugging

• Types of Errors
• Error Visibility and Context
• Handling Errors
• Generating Custom Errors
• Debugging

The Scripting Runtime Objects

• What Are Runtime Objects?
• Object Basics
• The Dictionary Object
• The FileSystemObject Library

Classes in VBScript (Writing COM Objects)

• Objects, Classes, and Components
• The Class Statement
• Defining Properties
• Defining Methods
• Class Events
• Level Constants
• Building and Using a Sample VBScript Class

Regular Expressions

• Introduction to Regular Expressions
• The RegExp Object
• The Matches Collection
• A Few Examples

Client-Side Web Scripting

• Tools of the Trade
• The Evolution of Scripting
• Different Scripting Languages
• Responding to Browser Events
• The Document Object Model in Action

Windows Sidebars and Gadgets

• Gadget Basics
• Building a Gadget
• Auto-Refresh a Gadget
• Packaging the Gadget

Task Scheduler Scripting

• Working with Task Scheduler
• Task Scheduler 2.0 Scripting Objects
• Sample Task Scheduler Script

PowerShell

• Requirements
• Features
• Why a New Scripting Language?
• Getting Started
• Working with Scripts in PowerShell
• Creating and Calling Your First PowerShell Cmdlet Script
• The Connection Between VBScript and PowerShell?

Super-Charged Client-Side Scripting

• Requirements and Browser Security
• Scriptlets ? Ancestors of Behaviors
• Event Management
• Scriptlets Are Deprecated in IE5
• HTML Components (HTCs)

Windows Script Host

• Tools of the Trade
• What Is WSH?
• Types of Script Files
• Running Scripts with the Windows Script Host
• Using .WSH Files to Launch Scripts
• Windows Script Host Intrinsic Objects

Windows Script Components

• What Are Windows Script Components?
• What Tools Do You Need?
• The Script Component Runtime
• Script Component Files and Wizard
• Exposing Properties, Methods, and Events
• Registration Information
• Creating the Script Component Type Libraries
• How to Reference Other Components
• Script Components for ASP
• Compile-Time Error Checking
• Using VBScript Classes in Script Components

Script Encoding

• Limitations of Script Encoding
• Encoded Scripts ? Dos and Don'ts
• Encoding with the Microsoft Script Encoder
• Decoding the Script
• Other Methods of Script Obfuscation

Remote Scripting

• How Remote Scripting Works
• Using VBScript for Remote Scripting

HTML Applications

• The Advantage of an HTML Application
• How to Create a Basic HTA
• The HTA:APPLICATION Element
• HTAs and Security
• HTA Deployment Models
• What Isn't Supported with HTAs?

Server-Side Web Scripting

• Understanding the Anatomy of the HTTP Protocol
• Introducing Active Server Pages
• Using the Active Server Pages Object Model
• Using Active Server Pages Effectively

Adding VBScript to Your VB and .NET Applications

• Why Add Scripting to Your Application?
• Macro and Scripting Concepts
• Adding the Script Control to a VB 6 or .NET Application
• Script Control Reference
• Error Handling with the Script Control
• Debugging
• Using Encoded Scripts
• Sample .NET Project
• Sample Visual Basic 6 Project

Advanced Scripting Techniques, Tools, and Technologies

• Remote Scripting
• Advanced WMI Scripting
• WMI Events
• Better Scripting with WMI Tools
• Scripting for the Enterprise
• Script Security